🧭 Fife’s Biggest Festival Just Got Bigger

Good morning, Fifers! What a scorcher of a week it’s been. It was the perfect excuse to cool off with a dip in the sea. Let’s hope the sunshine sticks around a bit longer!

Here’s what else is coming your way today:

• 🎉 Kirkcaldy’s Festival of Ideas Expands as Part of Lang Toun Fest

• 🌱 Fife’s Allotments Flourish Amid Soaring Demand

• 🚂 Great Britain XVII Steam Engine Visits and Fife

• 🍽️ Old Course Hotel Unveils Luxurious Fourth Floor Renovation

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about! And if you know someone who might enjoy the Fife Insider, pass it along. Just 3 referrals gets you a birthday shoutout!

— Duncan

WEATHER

The sunny weather was short but sweet. Here's the forecast:

Friday: 15 🌡️ 6 | ☁️

Saturday: 13 🌡️ 4 | ⛅

Sunday: 9 🌡️ 3 | 🌧️

Monday: 12 🌡️ 3 | ⛅

TOP STORIES AROUND THE KINGDOM

🎉 Kirkcaldy’s Festival of Ideas Expands as Part of Lang Toun Fest

Fife’s biggest festival just got bigger with Kirkcaldy’s Festival of Ideas joining forces with Lang Toun Fest, a month-long celebration of the town’s diverse events. Running from June 5-8, the Festival of Ideas will feature a lineup of brainy events with highlights including:

• June 5: The Adam Smith Pub Quiz at Betty Nicols, a historic tavern near where Smith once lived, featuring questions on the philosopher’s life and work.

• June 6: Exploring Smith – History, Sociology, and Law — an international panel discussion at Fife College, followed by an Adam Smith heritage trail exploring key locations in Kirkcaldy connected to his legacy.

• June 7: Actor Brian Cox will take the stage at the Adam Smith Theatre for a conversation with Arabella Weir, ahead of his play Adam Smith: Ghost of the Past at the Edinburgh International Festival.

• June 8: The premiere of Adam Smith: A Canopy of Hope at the Adam Smith Heritage Centre, a unique reading accompanied by cello music.

Check out all the Festival of Ideas events here.

🌱 Fife’s Allotments Flourish Amid Soaring Demand

A year after launching its Allotment and Community Growing strategy, Fife Council is celebrating a bumper year for local growing projects. With over 2,100 people now on the waiting list, demand for allotments across the Kingdom has more than doubled since the pandemic. You can join that list here.

New plots have been created in St Monans, Kirkcaldy, and Inverkeithing, with each site also receiving meeting rooms and communal spaces. Existing allotments in Lochgelly, East Wemyss, Crossford, Townhill, and Glamis Road have been expanded to meet growing interest.

More than 185 residents have received training in sustainable growing, and work with schools is helping to inspire the next generation of gardeners. The council says the initiative is delivering environmental, health, and social benefits across Fife, with community growing playing a key role in boosting wellbeing and biodiversity. [Fife Council]

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LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• ✨ Saline Community Centre has undergone a £488,000 transformation, with a new mono-pitched roof, updated exterior render, and fresh interior decor including new lighting and flooring.

• 📚 The new high school in Rosyth, which is being built to replace Inverkeithing High School, will be named Caledonia High School

• 🎬 A round of applause for Dunfermline's own Lesley Anne Davis, who was honoured in London with an OG Member Award at the first-ever Odeon Extras Awards!

• 🏷️ Lidl is planning 4 new sites across Fife: one in St Andrews, one in Kirkcaldy, one in Rosyth, and another in Dunfermline.

• 🔥 A Scottish Government loan of £850,000, secured against the long-abandoned Lundin Links Hotel, remains partially unpaid, with £347,230 still outstanding, after the recipient company, Kapital Residential, collapsed in 2022.

• 👩‍⚕️ NHS Fife has announced that Gillian McAuley will take over as its new Director of Nursing following the retirement of its current director, Janette Keenan.

• 💸 143 Fife College students have been awarded Russell Trust scholarships, worth between £50 and £300, to help them invest in resources to support their learning.

• 🌳 Bowhill Community Woodland in Cardenden was damaged by quad bike-riding vandals just hours after restoration work was completed.

• 🌉 Additional railings are to be installed at the Battery Point Picnic Area in North Queensferry, under the Forth Bridge, after Fife Council approved a bid for listed building consent.

• 🛳️ Fife Council have approved Babcock’s plans for a secure facility to store sections of new warships at Rosyth Dockyard. The warehouse will have two mega doors and be used for storing sections of Type-31 frigates prior to fabrication.

• 🎓 Plans for more than 700 student beds at the former Madras College site in St Andrews have been recommended for approval.

• 🚶 Lee Montgomery, from Cairneyhill, has completed the Glasgow Kiltwalk challenge, raising over £400 in aid of Scottish Autism.

AROUND FIFE

Each week, we highlight positive news stories, hidden gems, and local experiences to explore.

🚂 Great Britain XVII Steam Engine to Pass Through Tayside and Fife This Friday

Steam train enthusiasts will have a special treat this week as the iconic Great Britain XVII returns to Tayside and Fife on Friday, May 2, as part of its annual UK rail tour. Departing Inverness at 8:15am, the 60163 Tornado-hauled locomotive will travel south along the Highland Main Line, offering scenic views through the Cairngorms and Grampian Mountains. It will stop for over an hour in Perth from 11:37am to 12:56pm, giving fans a perfect opportunity to view the train up close.

From there, it continues through Fife, passing Newburgh (1:13pm), Ladybank (1:25pm), and Kirkcaldy (1:45pm), before a brief stop in Inverkeithing from 2:01pm to 2:07pm. The route then takes the train over the iconic Forth Bridge and into Edinburgh mid-afternoon, before continuing toward Newcastle. See the full route here.

🍽️ Old Course Hotel Unveils Luxurious Fourth Floor Renovation

The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews has completed a stunning transformation of its fourth floor, featuring a refined new look for the Road Hole Restaurant and Bar, a rejuvenated boardroom, and the refreshed Swilcan Loft seafood bar and chophouse.

Led by design firm Richmond International, the renovation blends modern elegance with Scottish heritage, offering breathtaking views of the 17th hole and West Sands Beach. The updated Road Hole Restaurant delivers relaxed fine dining with local ingredients like St Andrews Bay lobster and Fife lamb, while the Road Hole Bar boasts over 300 whiskies and a new social vibe. Heritage craftsmanship is also on display, with custom tartans, restored furniture, and artwork inspired by the coastal landscape. [Old Course Hotel]

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📍 Picture by Fife Insider | Location: Limekilns

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

✨ Featured Event

Want to add an event? Use the button below. Want a Featured Event like above? Drop us a line at [email protected].

🎶 Live Music & Concerts

📍 Certain Death – High-energy metal night with support from Big Iron and Dam Ratz.
📅 Fri, 2nd May | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 The King's, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

📍 Re-Take That – The ultimate Take That tribute show featuring the band's greatest hits and Robbie Williams classics, live on stage.
📅 Fri, 2nd May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £32

📍 Simon and Garfunkel: Through the Years – A tribute concert featuring iconic hits like The Sound of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water.
📅 Fri, 2nd & Sat, 3rd May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £28

📍 Open Mic Night – A night of creativity where anyone can take the stage and showcase their talents, from poetry to music and storytelling.
📅 Fri, 2nd May | 🕖 7:30pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Alice Armstrong Band – Award-winning UK blues artist delivers a soulful, genre-busting performance packed with powerhouse vocals and world-class musicianship.
📅 Fri, 2nd May | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 Backstage at The Green Hotel, Kinross | 🎟️ £24

📍 Dov and Marrakesh Live – Join David "Dov" Stevens and Mark "Marrakesh" Burdette for an upbeat night of live music.
📅 Fri, 2nd May | 🕣 8:30pm | 📍 The Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Black Cat Bone – Edinburgh’s raw rock ‘n’ roll force storms back to PJ Molloys for a night of electric riffs and wild energy.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £12

📍 A Beautiful Noise: Fisher Stevens & Orchestra – Celebrate 10 years of this spectacular Neil Diamond tribute show with all the hits and a full orchestra.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £28

📍 Black Rose: Thin Lizzy Tribute Band – Experience the raw power and iconic sound of Thin Lizzy.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 Backstage at The Green Hotel, Kinross | 🎟️ £22

📍 An Evening of Acoustic Blues – Intimate blues night with top Scottish talent.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13.70

📍 Tenement Jazz Band: Langtoun Jazz Spring Finale – End the season with toe-tapping New Orleans-style jazz.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 St Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £15

📍 Darren McElvar Solo – A night of stunning guitar and vocals, described as Kirkcaldy’s answer to John Mayer.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕣 8:30pm | 📍 The Harbour Bar, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Kinks Experience – Get ready for all the hits and classic tracks from The Kinks.
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕑 2:00pm | 📍 Backstage at The Green Hotel, Kinross | 🎟️ £27.50

📍 André Rieu’s 75th Birthday: The Dream Continues – Celebrate the King of the Waltz with a spectacular boat party concert film featuring never-before-seen performances.
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕑 2:00pm | 📍 The Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20

📍 Alabama 3 – The iconic collective brings their unique sound to Dunfermline for an unforgettable night.
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 P.J. Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £33

🎭 Theatre & Stage

📍 SCDA Scottish Finals 2025 – The One-Act Play Festival featuring eight short plays, performed over three nights, showcasing the best of Scottish community drama.
📅 Thu, 1st May - Sat, 3rd May | 🕖 7:00pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16

🎬 Entertainment

📍 St Andrews Heritage Tour – Step back in time and explore the East End of St Andrews with knowledgeable local guides.
📅 Fri, 2nd - Sat, 3rd & Mon, 5th May | 🕦 11:30am | 📍 War Memorial, Gregory Lane, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10

📍 Fife Flyers 1985 British Championship 40th Anniversary Event – A live stage show celebrating the Fife Flyers' 1985 British Championship win, with players from the iconic team reuniting to relive that historic season.
📅 Fri, 2nd May | 🕖 7:15pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £25

📍 Big Spring Bash – Join us for a day full of exciting activities, Garden tours, delicious local food, art and fantastic live music.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕗 10:00am | 📍 Botanic Gardens, St Andrews | 🎟️ £7.75

📍 Bear Burning 2025 – A fiery festival of whisky, live music, Highland Games, and the iconic bear burning.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕓 4:00pm | 📍 Lindores Abbey Distillery, Newburgh | 🎟️ £25

📍 Bearfoot Comedy Club – An extravaganza of stand-up comedy returns to Kirkcaldy for a night full of laughs and good vibes.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 The King’s, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £16.96

📍 Rich Hall: Chin Music – A night of razor-sharp, splenetic stand-up from the master of improvisation.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕗 8:00pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £18

📍 Sunday Storycraft – Free themed crafts and stories for all ages, every first Sunday of the month.
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕛 12:00pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Anster Cinema: Venus Peter – Special screening of a poignant coming-of-age film set in a 1940s fishing village, followed by a Q&A with the creators.
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕡 6:45pm | 📍 Dreel Halls, Anstruther | 🎟️ £6

📍 May Day Crafternoon: VE80 – Create beacons of hope and paper lanterns to be used to mark the commemoration of the VE80 anniversary.
📅 Mon, 5th May | 🕛 2:00pm | 📍 R&A World Gold Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Kids

📍 Gaelic and Scots Bookbug at Kirkcaldy Galleries – Enjoy free, fun, and friendly sessions for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers! Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Fri, 2nd May | 🕑 1:30pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bookbug at Kirkcaldy Galleries – Enjoy free, fun, and friendly sessions for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers! Sing, rhyme, and share stories with your little ones.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕑 10:30am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bounce – A fun-filled bilingual (BSL & English) show for kids aged 5–9, exploring emotions through laughter and marshmallows!
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕚 11:00am & 2:00pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £7.50

📍 Beltane 2025 – Celebrate May Day with family activities, creative workshops, and live performances!
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕐 1:00pm | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre, Newport-on-Tay | 🎟️ £7.50

📍 Artie’s Singing Kettle: Scotland – A family-friendly musical journey with Scottish favourites like “Aiken Drum” and “Three Craws”.
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕑 2:00pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13

🥗 Food & Drink

📍 Dunfermline Cocktail Week – Enjoy £5 cocktails and exclusive deals at 25 venues across Dunfermline!
📅 Fri, 25th April - Sun, 4th May | 🕖 9:00am - 11:45pm | 📍 Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.95

📍 Baern Spring Dinner – A seasonal, laid-back dinner featuring a locally sourced a-la-carte menu, from starters to desserts, complemented by natural wines, craft beers, and more.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕡 6:30pm | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ Varies

🛒 Markets

📍 Artisan Fridays Market – A lively weekly food market offering hot & cold food on Kirkcaldy High Street.
📅 Fri, 2nd May | 🕘 9:00am | 📍 Kirkcaldy High Street, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 St Andrews Market – Discover fresh produce, handmade crafts, and local Scottish goods at this vibrant monthly market on South Street!
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕘 10:00am | 📍 South Street, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

📍 Culross Community Market – Enjoy a fantastic day of local shopping, delicious food, and live music in the historic village of Culross.
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕛 12:00pm | 📍 Culross Green, Culross | 🎟️ Free

🎨 Exhibitions

📍 Unearthed – Step back in time to discover how Scotland was formed, explore prehistoric creatures, and uncover treasures from Fife’s past.
📅 Sat, 8th February – Sat, 27th September | 🕒 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

📍 Jack Vettriano Exhibition 2025 – A stunning collection of Jack Vettriano prints, including rare and sold-out pieces, at Affordable Arts!
📅 Tue, 4th March – Tue, 28th October | 🕙 10:00am | 📍 Affordable Arts, Methil | 🎟️ Free

📍 Hag: Knowledge, Power & Alchemy through Craft – An inspiring exhibition celebrating the creativity, strength, and mastery of 13 Scottish women craft artists.
📅 Sat, 8th March – Sun, 8th June | 🕙 Various times | 📍 Carnegie Library & Galleries, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

📍 Cupar Museum and Heritage Centre – Explore Cupar’s rich history with exhibitions celebrating 250 years of Cupar Curling Club, a newly restored portrait of Charles Lees, famous creative locals, and the story of an 1870s dress that made its way to New Zealand.
📅 Wed, 16th April – Fri, 31st October | 🕒 2pm (Wed, Fri & Sun) | 📍 Cupar Railway Station, Cupar | 🎟️ Free

📍 Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict – Discover the surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact of war on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March | 🕘 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

📍 Fife Flyers British Championship 40th Anniversary Exhibition – Relive the dramatic victory of the 1985 British Champions with memorabilia, photos, and more.
📅 Wed, 30th April - Sun, 8th June | 🕘 10am (Mon - Sat) & 12pm (Sun) | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 The Wonder Store – An exhibition curated by Robert & David Mach, inspired by the old Wonder Store in Methil, showcasing artworks by various renowned artists.
📅 Fri, 2nd May - Sat, 27th Jun | 🕚 Varies | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre, Methil | 🎟️ Free

🧶 Arts & Crafts

📍 Open Studios North Fife – Celebrate 20 years of art and craft across 95 studios with demos, workshops, and exhibitions.
📅 Sat, 3rd – Mon, 5th May | 🕥 10:30am – 5:00pm | 📍 Various locations, North Fife | 🎟️ Varies

📍 Crochet Workshop for Improvers – Master the Corner-to-Corner technique with expert tutor Karen Thomson.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕥 10:30am | 📍 Sew Yarn Crafty, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £30

📍 Cast ON at Kirkcaldy Galleries – A cosy, free fortnightly knitting & crochet meetup for all skill levels.
📅 Sat, 3rd May | 🕜 1:30pm | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

📍 Clay Village Ceramic Tea Light House Workshop – Build your own ceramic tea light house.
📅 Sun, 4th May | 🕜 1:00pm | 📍 Deborah Cameron Creative Artist Studio, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £68

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SPORTS

Fixtures

⚽ Queen’s Park vs Raith Rovers
📅 Fri, 2 May | 🕒 19:45 | 🏆 Championship

⚽ Greenock Morton vs Dunfermline Athletic
📅 Fri, 2 May | 🕒 19:45 | 🏆 Championship

⚽ Kelty Hearts vs Alloa Athletic
📅 Sat, 3 May | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 1

⚽ East Fife vs Elgin City
📅 Sat, 3 May | 🕒 15:00 | 🏆 League 2

Results

No recent results.

THANKS FOR READING

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Cheers,

Duncan

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